We study mice with genetic mutations in order to understand how genes control normal human development and disease. Mice have almost the same set of genes as humans, and malfunction or mutation of these genes usually has very similar consequences.

We study how genetic mutations lead to eye disease, in two ways. Firstly we examine mice in which random mutations have been created, in order to identify mutation that result in eye disease. Secondly, we look at mice in which particular genes have been knocked out as part of a project that is systematically mutating every gene one by one.

We also study how genes control melanocytes, which are the cells in the body producing pigment in skin and hair. These cells have a very interesting embryonic histroy, and genes affect how these cells develop, proliferate and become located at the correct places in the skin and hair follicle.